TV: The goals from Fir Park

TV: Higdon delighted with treble

TV: McCall lauds classic encounter

Hibs win in pictures

Motherwell 4 – 3 Hibernian

TV: McCall keen to have a go

‘Well boss Stuart McCall is hopeful his side can cause Celtic problems when the teams clash at Celtic Park tomorrow.

Neil Lennon’s side are on an astonishing run of form and have won every SPL game since beating Motherwell at Fir Park back in early November.

And McCall admits performances against the Old Firm are perhaps his biggest frustration when reviewing his fourteen months in charge of the club.

“It’s a big tester but these are the days you play football for,” said the former Scotland International.

“Since I’ve been here against Celtic and Rangers away from home it’s not been good enough, and we’ve tried every formation going.

“We’ve just not performed well enough on the day. Going to Celtic is difficult anytime but the way they are playing, the size of their squad, it’s naturally going to be a tough ask.

“But we’re in a run of form and we’ll have a look at how we approach the game and have a look at how we can hopefully hurt Celtic. Because in all the games we’ve played against them I don’t think we have given them too many problems defensively and we’ll maybe look at trying to do that a little bit more.”

“There might be some schools of thought for damage limitation but, in the position we are, we have got to look to cause them problems.”

Ojamaa named ‘Player of the Round’

Henrik Ojamaa continued his sensational start to life in Scotland by collecting the William Hill Scottish Cup ‘Player of the Fifth Round’ award.

The Estonian’s mantlepiece is already getting crowded with the Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month and the Cash Converters MFC Player of the Month gong for his performances in January.

The 20-year old scored in the 6-0 win over Morton and has netted five goals in nine matches and has played a major role in Motherwell’s resurgance in form.

Stuart McCall’s men are unbeaten in seven matches ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Celtic Park, where victory would take them level on points with Rangers.

Ojamaa has also helped his team-mates embark on a goalscoring spree – he did not score in a 4-3 win over Hibernian on Tuesday but won two penalties and hit the bar from 20 yards before Michael Higdon scored with an overhead kick.

The Estonian has increasingly combined his incessant running and eye for goal with some sublime tricks and turns and he feels the confidence of his team-mates, manager and fans has allowed him to flourish.

[pullquote]The fans have been amazing too. It has really helped that everyone is really welcoming and especially the way the manager wants us to play.[/pullquote]

The 20-year-old said: “Things are coming together and I’ve got the confidence to try different things now, and they seem to come off at times.

“I’ve been fairly confident in my ability over the last couple of years when it’s not been going as successful as it could have or I have not played so many games. But I’m really pleased with the way things are going.

“There is a great atmosphere in the changing room, we feel we can give anyone a game. It helps when the manager believes in you and my confidence is high, but it is throughout the team.

“The fans have been amazing too. It has really helped that everyone is really welcoming and especially the way the manager wants us to play.

“Sometimes you go to a new place and there is competition for places and the players make it harder for you, but here everyone has been amazing to me and I really appreciate it.”

Archive

Clancy and Lasley banned

Thursday 23 February 2012

Defender Tim Clancy and midfielder Keith Lasley both face time on the sidelines after picking up suspensions.

Lasley will serve the second of his two-match ban against Dunfermline next weekend, although he will be available selection against Celtic this weekend.

Former Killie defender Clancy has reached six cautions and will now miss the Aberdeen match on Saturday 17th March.

Archive

Hibs Hospitality Pictures

Thursday 23 February 2012

Did you enjoy last night’s game from our Hospitality suites? Were you in the Cooper after the match? Check out our fantastic hospitality pictures on motherwellpics.com.

TV: Higdon delighted with treble

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Top scorer Michael Higdon has spoke of his delight at netting his first ever hat-trick in claret and amber.

The scouse hitman took his tally for the season to thirteen and made the winning contribution to the enthralling game by slotting home two penalties and finding the back of the net with an acrobatic overhead kick.

Speaking exclusively to MFC TV he said: “I’m obviously delighted with the hat-trick. I had a good feeling tonight about getting one goal but to get three is very special for myself.

“We’ve got lots of character in the dressing room. The manager has good man-management skills and gets us all going, The lads all believe we can win every game and we’ve produced the goods again.

“Thankfully the fans have gone home happy because I thought they were tremendous. I’m delighted to be leading goalscorer. I want to finish as that and although I haven’t been scoring in recent weeks, I’ve been contributing to the team and the gaffer is happy with me so I can’t complain.”

TV: McCall lauds classic encounter

Wednesday 22 February 2012

‘Well boss Stuart McCall has heaped praise on his side after Motherwell’s excellent 4-3 victory over Hibernian.

After another seven goal thriller, the last seven games between the sides have produced and incredible 34 goals and McCall was quick to credit the Steelmen’s spirit to come back from a goal down and take all three vital points.

The victory now see’s the Steelmen surge twelve points above fourth place and only three behind Rangers in second.

He told MFC TV: “Credit to both sets of players, I thought it was an outstanding game. We created chances in the first half and we were confident they would come again but we also had to be careful of not leaving so many chances for them.

“We managed to score a goal more than them; we’re disappointed with the goals we lost but all in all it was a terrific nights entertainment. Two great goals and even the build up to both penalties had some good football involved as well.

“Credit to Hibs who came and had a right good go and made it an entertaing game but also you’ve got to credit our boys because the spirit, the desire and the drive to go for the throat and go for the victory. We weren’t going to settle for the point, we wanted the three, and they were terrific in the second half.”

Motherwell 4 – 3 Hibernian

A heroic hat-trick from MICHAEL HIGDON ensured Motherwell another three points in a gripping 4-3 win over Hibernian.

The visitors had led 1-0 at half time thanks to an Isaiah Osbourne tap in, but when HENRIK OJAMAA was upended in the box by Graeme Stack, two minutes in to the second half, Higdon slammed home the first of six second half goals.

It what was an end-to-end game, Higdon put the Steelmen back in front with a stunning overhead kick before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Doherty brought down Ojamaa inside the area.

Hibs made in a nervy finish with Ivan Sproule poked home from close range but the Steelmen hung on for another terrific victory.

This fixture was initially played as part of the SPL’s Friday Night Football experiment, which ended rather abruptly on Friday 2nd December, due to a small electrical fire in the South Stand. Hibs had been leading 1-0 thanks to a Gary O’Connor strike in Pat Fenlon’s first game in charge, when the match was abandoned at the interval. The vouchers handed out to the disappointed fans meant they had free entry to this rearranged tie, swelling the crowd to over 8,000 for the midweek outing.

Stuart McCall’s hand was forced in changing the side that dispatched of Hearts with so much gusto at the weekend with KEITH LASLEYmissing through suspension. Omar Daley came in in his place, meaning Motherwell set up with a very attack minded starting eleven. Hibs made three changes to the team that lost 5-0 to Celtic at the weekend, with Sproule, O’Connor and Stevenson back in the starting line up.

As always seems to be the case, Gary O’Connor and Leigh Griffiths were intent on being thorns in the Motherwell side and Griffith’s had two great chances early on to get on the scoresheet, but both efforts failed to test Randolph.

Higdon looked hungry for a goal and blazed over when he should have tested Stack, when played in by Daley. Down the other end, the pacy Griffith’s then tested Darren Randolph after turning in the box, but his shot was deflected up in to the goalie’s arms via TIM CLANCY. However, on his next attack, he set up the opening goal.

A header back by Clancy was pounced upon by the on-loan Wolves forward. He rounded Randolph and squared to the waiting Isaiah Osbourne, who slotted home from all of six yards. Incredibly, shortly after, it could have been 2-0 to the visitors when Osbourne again found space after good interplay with O’Connor and Griffiths, but his effort went wide of the goal.

Higdon showed his intent for a goal when he went close with two headers, forcing Stack to save on each occasion. His opposite number Garry O’Connor almost helped himself to a headed goal when Sproule’s cross landed on his forehead, but his effort drifted past the post.

Within a minute of the restart, the game was turned on its head. Consternation in the Hibernian defence allowed Ojamaa to latch on to a bouncing ball in the box, before he was taken out by Graham Stack. Referee McLean pointed straight to the spot, and Higdon stepped up to grab his eleventh goal of the season. It was a goal that his work rate in the last few games deserved, and he was to go on to make more of an impact on the game.

Hibs looked shaken by the equaliser, but could have regained the lead when Griffith’s was picked out on the left hand side by Sproule. However, he dallied too long and Randolph made a vital save to keep the game level. Ojamaa, Daley and STEVE JENNINGS all had chances to put Motherwell ahead, but that glory fell to Jamie Murphy, just after the hour.

Jamaican Daley utilised his pace and speed to capitalize on a slack ball out from the Hibs defence, before cutting to the bye line and firing a cross at the onrushing Murphy who slid the ball home from almost underneath the crossbar.

Motherwell had the impetus after coming from behind to take the lead, but managed to concede just four minutes later, when a corner from Francomb was bundled in at the second attempt by Doherty. The fans had little time to breathe between those goals, but were treated to a third Motherwell goal soon after.

Ojamaa’s trickery was causing Hanlon and McPake no end of bother and after creating room at the edge of the box, the Estonian struck the top of Stack’s bar. The rebound was volleyed back across goal by Murphy to the waiting Higdon, who slammed home a glorious overhead kick from eight yards to send the home fans delirious. It was picture-perfect bicycle kick from the big striker, and one he won’t soon forget.

Hibernian were lucky to finish the game with eleven men when substitute Scott led with what looked like an elbow in an aerial challenge with STEVIE HAMMELL, which grounded the left back for some time. A yellow card was shown, much to the ire of the home dugout.

However, on 75 minutes, Motherwell were dealt the perfect opportunity for a clincher, when Doherty upended Ojamaa inside the box for their second penalty of the night. There was only one man worthy of taking the spot kick and Higdon showed no mercy in driving the ball in to the same spot as his first of the night, to claim his hat-trick.

The goal scoring wasn’t finished though as Ivan Sproule bundled in a third for Hibs from yet another corner with five minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish. The Hammell/Scott collision meant there was to be five minutes of added on time, but try as they might, Hibernian could not force an equalizer and Motherwell held on for all three points.

71mins: What a game this is. The goal came from Ojamaa striking the bar, Murphy back heel volleyed it back across and Higgy overheads it!

70mins: Big Higgy with an overhead kick! 3-2!

70mins: GOOALL

65mins: GOAL – Hibs , Doherty

64mins: It’s Jamie Murphy after superb link up play from Higdon and Daley. The Jamaican’s ball in eludes stack and Murph pokes home!

64mins: GOALLL!!! MOTHERWELL

57mins: Randolph to the rescue with a crucial stop from Griffiths..while straight up the other end Ojamaa goes close! Well blocked though.

50mins: Ojamaa has the ball in the net….but he’s already been flagged up for a shirt pull. Booked afterwards.

47mins: Ojamaa hauled down by Stack. Higgy to take…. GOAL!!! Slotted into bottom left hand corner

47mins: PENALTY TO ‘WELL

45mins: Second half has just kicked off.

45mins: And it’s half time. Disappointing stuff.

40mins: Osbourne is unlucky as his 20 yard effort skims past the post. Up the other end, a corner…. Which is too deep for everyone and goes out of play.

34mins: And again we go close. Daley this time with an angled shot which Stack does well to turn out of play and not into the path of Murph

32mins: So unlucky there. Daley swings it in deep and Higdon’s header is floating in until Stack gets a hand on it.

28mins: Hibs go close. O’Connor with a near post glancing header which whistles just past the post.

26mins: Bit of pressure now from the ‘Well. 2nd corner in a row coming up…….cleared by O’Connor

18mins: Less said about that the better. Slack back pass allows Griffiths to round Randolph. He then squares the ball to Osbourne who taps in

18mins: GOAL: Hibs – Osbourne

15mins: It’s a bit scrappy getting. Neither side creating a good chance since Higgy’s.

7mins: A great chance! Daley dribbles his way towards the area, his drive across goal is straight to Higgy but the big man blazes over.

4mins: Bright start for both sides. A chance a piece with balls cut across goal with no takers.

1min: And we’re kicked off! ‘Mon the ‘Well.

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“We weren’t despondent at half-time and we told the lads that we would get chances, that turned out to be the case.”I just thought the two goals we got apart from the two penalties were good goals and the build up to the two penalties was great too.

“I am delighted for Higgy (Michael Higdon), he gives everything he has got and is a vital part of the team here.

“Hibs deserve immense credit, they came here and gave us lots of problems, they played their part in a cracking game of football.”

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon:

“We are disappointed, we have came here and scored three goals and got nothing out of the game. I thought we killed ourselves, we gave away sloppy goals and put in rash challenges at time when we should stay on our feet in the penalty area.

“You would think before the game that if we came here and scored three goals then we would win the game but instead we have left with nothing.”